Pocket tool-holder



M. MANNING.

POCKET TOOL HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, I919- 1,a39, 213. mum my 4, 1920- I a]; INVENTO'II BY 24; O'RNEYJ' MICHAEL MANNING, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

POCKET TOOL-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed-September 30, 1919. Serial No. 327,522.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL MANNING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Tool-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved holder to be placed in the pocket and to suspend articles, preferably tools such as pliers, scales, rules and similar implements, in such a manner as to permit their intentional withdrawal or insertion by positive manipulation, but preventing their accidental removal. I

The invention is further designed to provide a holder of this kind that can be adjusted to approximate the size of the article grasped, and to be detachably placed on the edge of a pocket.

he invention also includes details of construction more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in. the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder, and Fig. 2 is a section of the holder in place on the edge of a pocket, the spring clasps being shown in elevation.

The body portion of the holder is a frame made up of opposed these members being preferably U-shaped with their side arms 12 and 13 in sliding engagement, so that the frame can be made longer or shorter, as desired. This adjustment is convenient, as the size of the article held can be approximated, as a bulky, folded rule or a thin, narrow article, such as a scale can be more closely held against tilting. The alinement of the members can be insured by forming the short flanges 14 on one of the members.

A single means for holding the frame in adjusted position, for holding an article in the frame and for holding the frame in the pocket is provided. Such means is furnished by a spring clasp with an outer finger 16 to engage the outside of the frame, and an inner arm 17 to engage the inside of the frame, the inner arm being extended to cooperate with the inner arm of a similar clasp on the other side so as to form a spring holder. The inner arms are preferably extended below the frame and have the outmembers 10 and 11,

wardly turned ends 18. The outer fingers 16 also are bent outward at the bottom, as at 19.

lVhen the frame is to be used, it is adjusted to the size desired, and then the spring clasps are slipped over the tops of the sides. One of the clasps is then slid over the top edge 20 of the flap of a pocket in the garment, such as overalls, and then the article, as the rule 21, can be slid into the holder. Any pulling on the article can be noticed by the wearer and the unauthorized taking of tools from the pocket detected. In case of very thin goods, the edge 20 of the pocket can be folded over the top edge of the frame and then the spring clamp put on. This pro vides a thicker fold and consequently a more secure holding.

The holder is preferably made of flat metal and can be made cheaply, and it is also adjusted and manipulated with ease.

I claim:

1. A pocket tool holder comprising two slidable members and clasps to hold them against sliding and to grasp a tool in the holder.

2. A pocket tool holder comprising two slidable members and clasps to hold them against sliding and to grasp a tool in the holder, said clasps being alsoadapted to secure the device to the edge of a pocket.

3. A pocket tool holder comprising two U-shaped members with their side arms in slidable engagement, and spring clasps to frictionally engage the arms to hold them in adjusted position, said clasps being disposed to frictionally hold an article in the holder.

4. A pocket tool holder comprising two slidable members to form an adjustable frame, and spring clasps with free ends to engage an article in the frame, and being sprung over the sides of the frame to engage the members to hold them in adjusted position.

5. A pocket tool holder comprising two slidable members to form an adjustable frame, and spring clasps to engage the inside and outside faces of the frame and with their inner ends projecting below the frame to form holding arms.

6. A pocket tool holder comprising a frame and removable spring clasps to embrace the sides of the frame with their inner ends cooperating to form spring holding arms.

7. A portable frame comprising an adjustable frame formed of two opposed U-shaped members and spring clasps bent to closely embrace the sides of the frame and to engage the edge of a pocket, the inner ends of the clasps forming inwardly and downwardly projecting spring arms with V outwardly inclined ends. 10 In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereto set my hand this 29th day of September, 1919.

- MICHAEL MANNING. Witness:

ELBERT L. HITGHCOOK. 

